Inner tube



B. G. GOBLE.

INNER TUBE.

Patented Aug. ]l, 1922..

2 SHEETS SHEET I.

B. G. GOBLE.

INNER TUBE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12, 1921.

Patented Aug. L 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- BERT G. GOBLE, OF TULSA, OKLAHOMA.

INNER TUBE.

measles.

Application filed November 12,1921. Serial Ito. 514,710.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, BERT G. Gonna, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Tulsa, in the county of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inner Tubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in inflatable tires and more particularly to the inner tubes therefor of the type, the material of which is under compression, instead of under tension, when the tube is inflated and encased.

Inner tubes of this type which have here tofore been molded with a plurality of annular continuous depressions or folds, have had these folds so located as to prevent the formation of these folds of sufficient depth to obtain the required compression or so that the tube structure'as a whole has been quite rigid, resulting in making the placement of the tube within the casing a comparatively tedious operation.

It is accordingly present invention to construct a tube of this kind with a plurality of folds so located as to not interfere with each other or so that they may be formed of sufficient depth to obtain the required compression and at the same time without making the tube of rigid form so that the tube may be readily flexed for easy placement of the same within a casing.

A further object of the invention is to provide the annular folds or depressions in such manner or location that the same may be based upon long curves so related as to enhance the flexibility of the tube to a maximum extent.

Briefly stated, I attain these objects by molding the tube with a single annular fold or depression in each side thereof, the fold at one side being located inwardly of and concentric to the fold at the opposite side.

Figure 1 is a transverse section through a tire and rim and showing an inner tube constructed n accordance with the present inthe primary object of the vention seated within the casing prior to the admission of air under'pressure to the in-- terior of the tube,

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing'the inner tube of any and all of the forms shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 as it or they would appear when inflated by air under pressure and placed under compression.

Referring more in detail to the several views and particularly to Figure 1, 5 indicates the present inner tube which is molded of readily compressible material so as to normally have the shape shown in said figure with an annular fold or depression 6 in one side thereof located entirely outwardly of the axial center line 7 of the tube, and with another annular fold or depression 8 located entirely inwardly of the axial center line 7 of the tube and provided in the opposite side of the latter. The folds 6 and S are, in this form of the invention, extended inwardly toward each other or given such depth asto overlap whereby the external diameter of the tube is made considerably greater than the internal diameter'of the casino 9 with which it is to be used so that a maximum amount of compression may be had and by reason of the concentric or staggered relation of the folds or depressions, the tube is made highly flexible for permitting the insertion of the tube within the casing with maximum ease. This is contradistinguished from tubes where opposite folds are provided which limit the possible depth of the folds or depressions and tend .to make the tube comparatively rigid. Also, by providing only two folds or depressions and forming them in staggered or concentric relation, said folds may be based upon long or nonabrupt curves so. that high flexibility is additionally assured.

The remaining portions of the tube are preferably molded in shape to substantially conform with the remaining portions of the inner surface of the casing 9 as shown and the circumferential length of the tube at its inner periphery ilfl. is preferably normally greater than the circumferentiallength of the rim 11 which carries the tire so that the latter may be more easilyQmounted upon the rim. The difference in length at the inner periphery 10 is such as to leave a material space between the inner periphery of the tube and the usual protecting band or flap 12 which is placed upon the rim and inwardly of the bead ortions of the casing 9 so as to protect the inner portion of the tube from rust, etc.

In the form of the invention shown in Figure 2, the construction is substantially the same as that just described with respect to Figure 1, the larger or outer annular fold or depression being denoted by the numeral 6 and the inner fold or depression of the tube 5 being denoted by the numeral 8. In this form of the invention, the remaining portions of the. tube substantially conform to the inner surface of the casing 9' and the inner periphery 10 of the tube is spaced from the protecting band or flap 12 which is provided on the rim 11'. The distinction between this form of the invention and the form shown in Figure 1 is that the folds or depressions are of lesser'depth as will be the case when it is found that a particular tire does not require as much compression as would be gained by the construction of Figure 1. The advantage of a tube such as shown in F i re 2, whenever the same' may be practica ly employed, is that it embodies less material and by reason of the less abrupt curvatures upon which the folds or depressions are based, the flexibility will be increased. However, the fold or depression 6 in this form is located entirely outwardly of the axial center line 7 of the tube while the other fold or depression 8 is located entirely inwardly thereof.

Referring to Figure 3, the tube 5" is molded with an annular fold or depression 6" in one side thereof and another annular fold or depression 8" in the opposite side thereof so as to give the tube a greater external diameter than the internal diameter of the casing 9". In this form of the invention, the folds or depressions are located in concentric or staggered relation and they are widened so that each of the same intersect the axial center line 7 with the major portion of the fold 6" located outwardly of said axial center line 7" and with the major portion of the fold or depression 8 located inwardly of said axial center line. This form of the invention is illustrated as having the folds of such depth as to extend inwardly past each other or in overlapping relation so as to give maximum compression and it is noted that by widening the folds as illustrated in this form of the invention so as to intersect the axial center line, said folds may be made upon still less abrupt curves for obtaining higher flexibility of the tube. In this form of the invention, the inof the tube is illustrated ner periphery 10" band as entlrely spaced from the protecting or flap 12" arranged upon the rim 11" and the remaining portions of the tube substantially conform to the adjacent portions of the inner face of the casing 9".

As is usual in this general type of tube and as shown clearly in Figure 4, the tube of each of the forms shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 will assume a fiat contact with the inner surface of the casing throughout when placed under inflation pressure and when this takes place, the compression of the tube is had. In Figure 4, the tube is given the reference character 5 but the tubes 5 and 5" would assume the same condition in use.

It is believed that the construction and operation of the present invention as well as the advantages thereof will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art from the foregoing description. Minor changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

1. As an article of manufacture, an endless inner tube of the compression type molded of readily compressible material with a single annular depression or fold in each side thereof, the fold at one side'of the tube being located outwardly of-the other fold and said folds being substantially concentric and providing the tube with an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the casing with which it is to be used.

2. As an article of manufacture, an endless inner tube of the compression type molded of readily compressible material with a single annular depression or fold in each side thereof. the fold at one side of the tube being located outwardly of the other fold and said folds being substantially concentric and providing the tube with an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the casing with which it is to be used, said folds being of sufficient depth to extend inwardly past each other in overlap ping relation.

3. As an article of manufacture, an endless inner tube of the compression type molded of readily compressible material with a single annular depression or fold in each side thereof, the fold at one side of the tube being located outwardly of the other fold and said folds being substantially concentric and providing the tube with an external diameter greater than the internal diameter of the casing with which it is to beused, the outer fold or depression being located entirely outwardly of the axial center line of the tube and the inner fold or depression beline.

4:. As an article of manufacture, an endless inner tube of the com ression type molded of readily compressib e material with a ing located entirely inwardly of said center single annular depression or fold in each the same side as the outer fold, and the outer side thereof, the fold at one side of the tube side portion of the tube on the same side as 10 being located outwardly of the other fold the inner fold being molded together with and said folds being substantially concenthe tread portion of the tube to substantrio and providing the tube with an extertially conform to the adjacent portions of nal diameter greater than the internal diamthe inner surface of the casing.

eter of the casing with which .it is to be In testimony whereof ll afi'ix my signature. 15 used, the inner side portion of the tube on" BERT G. GOBLE. 

